ROOTED - Saturday, February 7, 2026

Numbers 10:35, 36
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

Reflection: Danger and Enemies Ahead
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
The Book of Numbers records for us the logistical nightmare required for the Children of Israel to move around and travel in the wilderness. It was a process requiring detailed planning to get nearly a million people to move from one location to the other. Each of the tribes had their own role to play. The details of where the tribes were to set up camp (some on the east, some on the west, etc.) and how they were to leave and in what order are detailed to the extreme. 
At the end of the several chapter instructions, Numbers records the words Moses would say as God’s people would pitch camp and break camp. Moses would say, “Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered” as they left. As they established camp he would utter, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.” Imagine living then. Imagine being among these people. You are walking into an unknown land. The Promised Land was inhabited by people who hated the Children of Israel and were set to defend themselves. Imagine, now, being among the people who lived in Canaan and you see a horde of a million people coming your way. With this in mind, God’s people needed the Lord’s protection. “Go ahead of us God… and scatter our enemies.” Then, as they settled to make camp, the natural prayer would be, “Come back now, O Lord, and be with your people.” These people were utterly dependent on God’s protection. They are advancing on enemy ground… into the unknown. 
So, it is with us. We equally need God’s presence and protection. The difference between us and them (I humbly submit) is that we are blissfully ignorant of the spiritual dangers ahead of us. May our eyes be opened to our spiritual enemies and the dangers ahead and invite God’s protection over us.

Prayer
Lord, protect your people from enemies unknown. Go ahead of us and scatter the enemy, and rest over your people once more.